Apparatus for winding yarn



Oct. 30, 1962 R. w. CHIDGEY, JR., ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR WINDING YARN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1960 FIG.

INVENTORS W. C HIDGEK JR.

BY E M. IRWIN mzw A T TOR/ 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

0.5 1.5 2 2.5 3 HELIX ANGLE(DEGREES) INVENTORS' RONALD w. 0/1/0015) JR.

CLAUDE M. IRWIN BY If ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR WINDING YARN R. W. CHIDGEY,JR" ETAL Oct. 30, 1962 Filed Jan. 21, 1960 FIG. 5.

United 345613.15 APPARATUS FOR WINDING YARN Ronald W. Chidgey, Jr., andClaude M. Irwin, Pensacola, Fla, assignors, by mesne assignments, toMonsanto Chemical Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 21,196%, Ser. No. 3,818 1 Claim. (Ci. 2 i2-26.3)

This invention relates to apparatus for winding yarn and moreparticularly to apparatus for winding yarn onto a bobbin in such amanner as to eliminate pirn taper barre in a fabric made up from theyarn.

In the formation of one type of yarn package, the yarn is wound onto thebobbin in such a manner that the finished package has a cylindricalcentral portion and tapered ends. Because of stresses, the typicalsynthetic yarn in the tapered ends of the package undergoes changes incharacteristics which cause streaks in a fabric made up from the yarn.These streaks are commonly referred to as pirn taper barre, since theyarn in the streak comes from the tapered portion of the yarn package.It is well known that thermoplastic yarns, such as nylon, have a certainamount of elasticity and, after being drawn or stretched, tend toshrink. Pirn taper barre is believed to be a result of varying pressuresset up in portions of the yarn package by shrinkage of the yarn, or aresult of varying denier caused by this shrinkage. As a result of thisproblem, the ultimate user of the synthetic yarn has found it necessaryto unwind the yarn from this package, reprocess it, and rewind it intoanother package before using it, in order to eliminate streaks in thefinished fabric. This, of course, is undesirable. With this problem inmind, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a novel andimproved method and apparatus for winding yarn into a tapered package insuch a manner that pirn taper barre is eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for Windingyarn onto a bobbin at a predetermined angle relative to the bobbin.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus for rapidlytraversing yarn being wound into a package.

Still another object of this invention is to provide apparatus fortraversing yarn along a bobbin at a uniform speed from one end of thebobbin to the other.

A still further object of this invention is to provide apparatus fortraversing a yarn along a bobbin without a decrease in traversing speednear the ends of the traversing stroke.

One of the embodiments of the invention contemplates a method of windinga yarn onto a bobbin wherein the yarn is traversed at a high speed,without a decrease in traversing speed near the ends of the traversestroke. The traversing speed is sufiiciently high that the yarn is laidonto the bobbin at a helix angle of several degrees relative to the axisof the bobbin. As a result of winding the yarn onto the bobbin 'at ahigh helix angle, pirn taper barre is eliminated. The helix angle is afunction of winding speed and traversing speed. Inasmuch as the yarnwinding speed is quite high, it is necessary to traverse the yarn at ahigh speed in order to obtain the desired helix angle, without whichpirn taper barre results.

An apparatus for winding the yarn in the above-described manner mayinclude a continuous belt having one span traveling in one directionalong a path parallel to the bobbin and having another span travelingalong a path parallel to the bobbin in the opposite direction. Atraversing block carrying a conventional yarn guide is mounted forreciprocation along a path parallel to the bobbin. A gripper membermovably mounted on the traversing block cooperates with the block togrip the spans of the moving belt alternately near the beginning3,%l,2l5 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 to traverse the yarn. Inasmuch as thebelt is moving at a uniform speed and the traversing block moves at thesame speed as the belt, the yarn is traversed onto the bobbin at a highspeed without a decrease in the traversing speed near the ends of thetraverse stroke.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent whenthe following detailed description is read in conjunction with theappended drawings, in which FiGURE l is a fragmentary perspective viewof one embodiment of the invention showing the general layout of thevarious elements of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the traversing block showingthe manner in which the traversing block and a gripper block cooperateto grip the belt;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 showing a camwhich actuates the gripper block;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a traveler mounted on atraversing ring for directing yarn onto a bobbin; and

FIGURE 5 is a graph showing the relationship of bar-re severity to helixangle.

FIGURE 5 shows the relationship of barre severity to helix angle in asynthetic yarn wound into a package having tapered ends and then made upinto a fabric without further processing, the helix angle being theangle at which the yarn is laid or wound onto the bobbin. Whenconventional yarn winding methods and apparatus are used, the yarn islaid onto the bobbin at a helix angle well under 1. As FKGURE 5 shows,this will result in heavy barre, unless the weaver reprocesses the yarn.This has been a longstanding problem, the weaver invariably having toreprocess the yarn before it is made up into a fabric.

The method of the present invention comprises winding the yarn onto thebobbin at a helix angle greater than about 22.5. The helix angle is afunction of yarn takeup speed and yarn traverse speed. It is necessary,from an economy standpoint, to use a high yarn takeup speed.Consequently, the traverse speed must be high, in order to obtain ahelix angle of at least 22.5

As an example of the method, yarn was wound onto a bobbin in such amanner as to form a yarn package hav ing a cylindrical central portionand tapered end portions, such as is the result of conventional warpwinding, The

yarn was wound or laid onto the bobbin at a speed of 426 yards perminute. The length of the traverse stroke at the beg nning of thewinding operation was 10.5 inches, and the yarn was traversed at 30strokes per minute. As a result of these takeup and traversing speeds,the helix angle was approximately 2.5. Pirn taper barre was undetectablein fabric woven from this yarn.

Using the same yarn takeup speed and stroke length and varying traversespeeds, other runs were made. FIG- URE 5 illustrates the results ofthese runs; When the helix angle is above 2-2.5, pirn taper barre is notdetectable. As the helix angle is decreased from this range, pirn taperbarre becomes more and more noticeable. Of course, if the barre isnoticeable at all, the fabric is not usable.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, which show a device forperforming the method, a frame 11 is shown supporting a driving motor 12and a gear box 13. The frame 11 also supports a pair of guide rods 15upon which are slidably mounted a pair of striker plates 16 and 17 and atraversing block 18. The block 18 carries a ring type for directing ayarn 23 onto a bobbin 26 mounted 3 concentrically within the ring 21 androtated in a well known manner by apparatus of a well known type.Reciprocation of the ring 21 applies the yarn 23 to the rotating bobbin26 to form a package 27.

The positions of the striker plates 16 and 17 determine the distance oftravel of the traversing block 13, and consequently, the distance oftraversing of the yarn 23. In order to form a package having taperedends such as that illustrated in FIGURE 4, it is necessary to move thestriker plates 16 and 17 slowly together as the traversing block 18 isreciprocated to build the package 27. This movement is achieved by meansof a screw 30 rotatably supported on the frame 11 and having oppositeends threaded in opposite directions. The screw 30 is driven from thegear box 13 and is connected to the striker plates 16 and 17 by springloaded jaws 32 pivotably mounted on the striker plates 16 and 17. Thesejaws are provided with handles 33 which may be manually moved togetherto disengage the jaws 32 from the screw 30. When the jaws 32 aredisengaged from the screw 30, the striker plates 16 and 17 may be freelymoved up and down the guide rods 15.

Collars 36 secured to the guide rods 15 by set screws determine theuppermost or starting position of the upper striker plate 16. Lowercollars 37 secured to the guide rods 15 by set screws determine thelowermost or starting position of the lower striker plate 17. Thecollars 36 and 37 may be set at different positions on the guide rods 15to vary the starting positions of the striker Plates 16 and 17.

AV-belt 4-0 for reciprocating the traversing block 18 is carried bypulleys 41 and 42, the pulley 41 being mounted on the frame 11 and thepulley 42 being driven through the gear box 13. The pulley 42 is rotatedin such a direction that the span or portion of the belt 40 to the rightof the pulleys 41 and 42 (FIGURE 1) moves upward along a path parallelto the bobbin and the left span Or portion of the belt 41) movesdownward along a path parallel to the bobbin. Thus, one span of the belt40 is moving in one direction parallel to the bobbin while the otherspan of the belt is moving in the other direction parallel to thebobbin.

The traversing block 18 is provided with a rectangular groove in whichis slidably mounted a gripper block 50 having at its opposite endsvertical grooves 51 and 52 (FIGURE 2) which conform in shape to theinner portion of the V-belt 40. The right portion or span of the belt 40passes through the groove 51 between the gripper block '50 and a surface53 of the traversing block 18. The left portion of the belt 41 passesthrough the groove 52 between the gripper block 50 and a surface 54 ofthe traversing block 18. The gripper block 50 is adapted to be moved tothe right or left to grip either span of the belt 40. When the gripperblock 50 is moved to the left as shown in FIGURE 2, the left portion orspan of the belt 40 is gripped between the block 50 and the block 18,and the block 18 with the ring 21 is carried downward at the speed oftravel of the belt 40. When the gripper block is moved to the right, theright portion or span of the belt 40 is held between the block 18 andthe block 50, and the block 18 with the ring 21 is carried upward.

A circular, eccentric cam 60 having a longitudinally extending flange63'extending partially around the periphery thereof is provided with asupporting pin 61 rotatably attached to the block 18 in such a mannerthat the cam 60 may be rotated relative to the block 18. The cam 60 ispositioned in an opening 62 in the gripper block 50, the block 50 havingsurfaces 65 and 66 which the flange 63 is adapted to engage to move theblock 50 in one direction or the other. A tension spring 69 is attachedat one end to a bolt 70 secured to the block 50 and at the other end toa screw 71 extending through the flange 63. The spring 69 urges the cam60 against one of the surfaces 65 or 66 to cause one span or the otherof the belt 40 to be gripped.

A pin 75 secured to the cam 60 extends into a transverse notch 76 in abar 77 which is slidably mounted in a groove 78 in the gripper block 56.A plate 80 secured to the traversing block 18 retains the gripper block50 and the bar 77 within the rectangular groove in the block 18. Theends of the bar 77 extend above and below the traversing block 18 andare adapted to engage the striker plates 16 and 17 as the block 18 isreciprocated to traverse the yarn 23. This changes the position of thebar 77 in the groove 78 to thereby change the position of the cam 60 forchanging the direction of the block 1 As illustrated in the drawings,the left portion or span of the belt 40 is gripped between the blocks 18and 5:) and the block 18 is moving downward. When the block 18 nears thelower striker plate 17 the lower end of the bar 77 will engage thestriker plate 17. This stops the bar 77 and causes the cam 60 to berotated clockwise, whereupon the flange 63 engages the surface 65 of theblock 50 to move this block to the right for gripping the right portionor span of the belt 40. This causes the block 18 and the ring 21 to bemoved upwardly.

When the block 18 nears the upper striker plate 16, the bar 77 engagesthe plate 16 and is stopped, whereupon the cam 60 is rotatedcounterclockwise into engagement with the surface 66 of the gripperblock 50. This urges the gripper block 50 to the left into the positionillustrated in the drawings, whereupon the traversing block 18 begins tomove downward.

In operation of the device, the traversing block 18 is reciprocated totraverse the yarn 23 as described above. During the winding of thepackage 27 the screw 31 is continuously rotated to slowly advance thestriker plates 16 and 17 from the starting positions toward each other.This causes the distance of travel of the traversing block 18 to becontinuously shortened until the package 27 is completed. As a result, ayarn package having a cylindrical body and tapered ends is formed on thebobbin. The handles 33 are then manually moved together to disengage thejaws 32 from the screw 30 and the striker plates 16 and 17 are manuallymoved to their starting positions. Another bobbin 26 is mounted on themachine and the above procedure is repeated.

Because of the construction and mounting of the cam 60 and the spring69, it can be seen that the cam 60 will operate with a snap action tothereby give an extremely fast change of direction to the block 18.Also, it is not necessary that the bar 77 be moved far enough to jam thecam 60 against the gripper block 50. When the bar 77 moves the cam 61)to a point where the screw 71 passes the position comparative to topdead center, the spring 69 takes over to snap the cam 60 into its newposition. The result is a fast reversal of the direction of travel ofthe block 18 and the ring 21. Since the block 18 and the ring 21 travelwith the belt, it is clear that the speed of traverse does not decreasenear the ends of the stroke, as is the case in conventional yarntraversing mechanisms.

It is to be understood that the embodiment disclosed herein is merelyillustrative of the invention and that many other embodiments may becontemplated without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

A device for guiding yarn onto a rotating bobbin, comprising a frame, apair of guide rods mounted on the frame parallel to the axis of therotating bobbin, a pair of stop members slidably mounted on the guiderods, means on the frame for moving the stop members toward each otheron the guide rods, a traversing block slidably mounted on the guide rodsbetween the stop members and having a rectangular groove extendingthereacross, a pair of pulleys mounted on the frame, a belt carried bythe pulleys and having two spans extending through said rectangulargroove parallel to the axis of the bobbin, means on the base forrotating the pulleys so that one of said spans moves in one directionwhile the other said span moves in the opposite direction, a gripperblock slidably mounted in the rectangular groove in the traversing blockfor cooperating with said traversing block to alternately grip one andthen the other of the spans of the belt, said gripper block having acentral opening, a cam pivotally attached to the traversing block andpositioned in the centralv opening in the gripper block for engaging andactuating said gripper block, a tension spring secured to the cam and tothe gripper block for urging said cam into engagement with the grip-perblock, a bar slidably mounted on the gripper block parallel to saidguide rods and having ends extending past the edges of said gripperblock and also having a transverse notch, and a pin secured to the camand extending into the transverse notch in the bar in such a manner thatmovement of the bar pivots the cam,

said bar being adapted to engage the stop members for 1 pivoting the camand thereby reversing the direction of the traversing block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSWhiteside Apr. 27, Bryant July 18, Jones June 9, Campbell Sept. 22, LaCesa Sept. 2, Stamrnwitz Sept. 25, Smith Nov. 10,

FOREIGN PATENTS Netherlands Feb. 15, Italy July 26, Great Britain Sept.25,

